Obituary for Rose J Zappola
Funeral Mass for Rose J. (nee Drago) Zappola, 90, of Mentor, will be 11 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Church, 37940 Euclid Ave., Willoughby. Fr. Timothy Kalista will officiate the Mass. Mrs. Zappola passed away Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. She was born Sept. 7, 1925 in Cleveland''s Little Italy. She had been a longtime resident of Willowick before moving to Mentor.Rose was a 1943 graduate of Jane Adams High School. She grew up in Little Italy where she met Chuck, her husband of 52 years. They were married in 1946 at Holy Rosary Church. They moved to Willowick in 1958 where they raised their family. She was a former member of Saint Mary Magdalene Church. She was a precinct committeeman for the Republican Party in Willowick for over 20 years. She was president of the PTA at Royalview Elementary and also assisted at Our Lake of Mount Carmel School Library. Rose did volunteer work for the Council On Aging, packing up and delivering Meals On Wheels. Rose was a member and longtime reporter for the Italian Sons and Daughters of America University Lodge. She also belonged to the Holy Rosary Society of Holy Rosary Church. She was very proud of her Italian heritage. She was an avid reader and word search enthusiast. She was the loving mother of Theresa (John) McCurdy, Peter (Linda) Zappola and Chuck (Patti) Zappola; cherished grandmother of Lisa Monteleone, Laura Vonseggern, Peter Zappola, Anthony Zappola, Tina Vespucci, Carla Schaeperkoetter, Alyssa Zappola and Charlie Zappola; great-grandmother of Marissa, Pasquale, Anthony, Cameron, Carson, Connor, Marianna, Natalia, Camella, Anthony and Thomas; sister-in-law of Adeline Drago, Connie Nicolosi and Althea Zappola; and aunt of many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles B. Zappola in 1998; parents, Sebastian and Rose (nee Favetta) Drago; and brother, Louis Drago. Family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home, Willoughby. Burial will be in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name are suggested to Catholic Charities of Cleveland, 1031 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114,